Cancellation Medium: Easy Method

What is Medium

Overview

Medium is an online publishing platform that offers a mix of free and member-only articles written by independent writers, publications, and organisations.

The platform combines reading features (audio narration, offline reading) with a subscription model that supports writers and gives members unlimited access to premium content.

Who this guide is for

This guide is written for readers and subscribers in South Africa who want clear steps to cancel a Medium subscription and understand refunds, rights, and next steps.

It covers the three common billing routes: web (credit card or PayPal), Apple App Store (iOS), and Google Play (Android).

How to cancel Medium

Cancel via web (credit card or PayPal on medium.com)

• Sign in at medium.com on a web browser.
• Go to Settings → Membership & Payment → Cancel your membership.
• Confirm cancellation. Your membership benefits continue until the end of the current billing cycle.
• Note: cancelling stops renewal but does not delete your Medium account or content.

Cancel via App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android)

• iOS: On your device open Settings → [Your Name] → Subscriptions → Medium membership → Cancel subscription.
• Android: Open the Google Play app → profile icon → Payments & subscriptions → Subscriptions → Medium → Cancel subscription.
• Do not delete the app as a substitute for cancelling; deleting the app or your Medium account does not cancel App Store or Google Play subscriptions.

What happens when you cancel

Access and renewal

After cancellation your membership remains active until the end of your paid billing period.

Once the billing period ends, access to member-only content is removed unless you re-subscribe.

Account and content

Cancelling a paid membership does not delete your Medium account, posts, or comments.

If you want your content removed you must follow Medium’s account- or content-deletion procedures separately.

Will I get a refund?

Web (medium.com) refund policy

Medium does not offer prorated refunds for unused portions after cancellation via the web; cancelling stops future renewals but does not trigger a partial refund.

If you need a refund request for a web payment, expect that Medium generally does not provide prorated refunds.

App Store and Google Play refunds; gift memberships

• App Store / Google Play: Billing and refund decisions for subscriptions purchased through Apple or Google are handled by Apple or Google respectively.
• Medium does not issue refunds for purchases billed through those stores; you must request refunds via Apple or Google support.
• Gift memberships: refunds for unused portions may be granted only at Medium’s sole discretion and are not guaranteed.

Medium plans and pricing

South Africa pricing snapshot

The following prices are regional figures from the South African App Store listing and may vary across platforms or over time.

Confirm the price shown in your purchase flow or store before subscribing.

Your consumer rights in South Africa

Electronic Communications and Transactions Act (ECT Act)

Under the ECT Act, consumers can cancel 'services' within seven days of conclusion of the agreement in certain online transactions.

If cancellation under the ECT Act applies, a full refund must generally be issued within 30 days, less direct return costs where applicable.

Consumer Protection Act (CPA) and cooling-off

• The CPA provides a five business day cooling-off period for direct marketing, and related protections may apply to distance or online sales in some cases.
• Digital content and subscription services have specific exceptions and conditions; always check the exact contract terms and your local consumer protection guidance.

Customer experiences

Common negative themes reported

Public reviews and summaries show recurring complaints: account suspensions, billing confusion, perceived deceptive prompts, and slow or absent customer service responses.

Other frequent issues reported include content moderation disputes, limited discoverability, and claims of double charging or billing errors.

Context and balance

These negative experiences appear in global review summaries and are not specific to South Africa due to limited region-specific sources.

Individual experiences vary; some users report satisfactory service and access, while others report frustration with support and billing.

Documentation checklist

Before contacting support

• Account email or username used to subscribe.
• Receipt or proof of purchase (store receipt, payment confirmation, transaction ID).
• Subscription method: Web, Apple App Store, or Google Play.

If disputing a charge or requesting a refund

• Screenshots of subscription pages, billing history, and cancellation confirmation.
• Dates of charge and cancellation, and correspondence with Medium or store support.
• If purchased through Apple/Google, any reference numbers from their refund request system.

Common mistakes

Deleting the app instead of cancelling

Many people remove the Medium app but forget that App Store or Google Play subscriptions continue until cancelled through the store.

Always cancel through the subscription settings of the store used to purchase.

Expecting prorated refunds or assuming account deletion cancels billing

Expecting a partial refund after cancelling a web subscription is a common mistake; Medium generally does not prorate refunds for web cancellations.

Also, deleting your Medium account does not automatically cancel App Store or Google Play subscriptions; cancel those separately.

Comparative recap

At-a-glance differences

The table below summarizes practical differences between cancellation routes, refund likelihood, and access after cancellation.

Use it to pick the correct cancellation method based on how you paid.

After cancelling

Confirm and keep records

After cancelling, keep any confirmation messages, screenshots, or email receipts showing the cancellation and end date of access.

Check your next billing statement to confirm no further renewals were charged.

Where to get more help

If you need platform help, look for the Medium Help Center or support articles by searching "Medium Help Center" from a web browser.

For App Store or Google Play billing issues, contact Apple Support or Google Play support through their official channels.

Address

Corporate address (for reference)

A Medium Corporation, 3500 South DuPont Highway, Suite IQ-101, Dover, DE 19901, USA

Use the Help Center or your store's support channels for account and billing actions rather than mailing unless instructed by official support.